Happy Easter!

Three generations of Cahill men looking good!

Dear Friends of Denny,

We wish you a very happy Easter. It has been a year in which we have spent a good bit of time meditating on new beginnings, and so we truly appreciate the spirit of the holiday.

Dad has had a good week, though he and Mom spent more time in doctor's offices for check ups than he or Mom would have liked. Things are looking good, however, so it was worth it for the good news. He continues to have regular physical therapy, and the speech therapist has recovered and worked with him on Friday.

The most exciting thing this week is that son, Kevin, came home and brought grandson, Sean. They had a wonderful time visiting -- Dad hadn't really been able to spend time with Sean, who was born in June, just before the stroke. So this visit helped make up for some lost time. Mom also enjoyed seeing her son and grandson for the Easter weekend!

We are very grateful for our family this Easter, and we send our best wishes to you and yours as well.
Happy Easter,
The Cahill Family

Denny's view from the deck. Not bad

Settling into a Routine

Dear Friends of Denny,

It has been a fairly quiet week for Dad and Mom. They have gotten to know Dad's caregivers and everyone is settling into a good routine.

Dad usually takes two walks down the road each day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon.  Mom said that they usually go for about a mile, so she's getting some good exercise. During the week, he is visited by physical therapy and the home healthcare nurse. Dad practiced standing with help this week with PT. He stood for a minute and then 3 minutes during one of the sessions. He is also supposed to be having speech therapy, but the speech therapist has been out with the crud. We are hoping that will start up soon. He also saw a doctor about his trach. Everything looks good and the doctor thinks that with some work, he might be able to eat again one of these days. Dad was very excited about that and said he especially wanted a cheeseburger!

Dad is especially enjoying visits from all of his Humboldt friends. He often asks Mom who is coming to visit him for the day. Several friends stopped by to see Dad this week. His classmates from SBHS Class of '57, Dora Yager Kallimos and Judy Giannini (apologies if I've botched the spelling) came earlier in the week. He also had a visit from neighbor, Chuck Smith, and good friend, Larry Henderson. We also learned from Larry that Dad might have been correct when he told us Tony Viegas has stopped by to see him in the hospital in Alameda. Larry said Tony had planned to swing by while he was down there. We all thought that Dad had been dreaming, but turns out, we might of been wrong (don't tell him I said that, we'll never hear the end of it).

If you want to swing by and say hello, please do, Dad will be thrilled. Saturday or Sunday afternoons are best. If you don't know how to get to the Cahill ranch, you can email daughter Cathleen at cdcahill@gmail.com for directions.

Dora Yager Kallimos, Dad, and Judy Giannini

Dear Friends of Denny,

St. Patrick's Day Card by Granddaughter Cecilia

 Happy St. Patrick's Day! As you know, Dad is proudly 100% Irish, so this is one of his favorite holidays. He was very happy to be celebrating it at home. He even showed us "shamrocks" from the redwood forest when we Skyped by computer this morning. And of course, he was a wearin' o' the green.

Mom and Dad's favorite blue-eyed daughter, Christine, came home for a quick holiday visit. She helped Mom put up some decorations, and she and Dad enjoyed reading some Irish Blessings and Irish Wit together. As you can imagine, Dad had some Irish wit of his own to add.

Mark, Micki, Pam, and Denny enjoy lunch on the porch

 


Dad had a few other visitors this weekend. Ann Lynch stopped by and brought him a video of one of the infamous Cahill/Lynch St. Patrick's Day parties from the early '80s! Sisters-in-law Phyllis and Micki came by to say hello. Micki and Mark helped Mom plant some lettuce and other veggies in the planter that we bought for her last year. It is finally getting put to use. Marilyn and George Zibilich also came over and brought some soda bread in honor of the holiday. Tonight, sister Cathy and brother-in-law Ron stopped by to say hello.

Pam, Micki, and Mark plant Mom's kitchen garden

Dad had a good week. He is now getting physical therapy three days a week. With his caregivers, he is working on using his legs to propel himself in his wheelchair rather than being pushed everywhere. This is challenging, but he's game.  He is also starting speech therapy this week. He has been enjoying taking some long walks down Graham Road. The other day, he came home with a bouquet of the first spring wildflowers for Mom. Today, he, Mom and Christine took advantage of the lovely weather today to take another one.

We hope you and your families also had a wonderful weekend.
And we'd like to leave you with one of Dad's favorites, The Old Irish Blessing:

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

and rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Den enjoying the sun on the porch with Mark, his caregiver. Note the fabulous ramp built by Steve John to the right

Dear Friends of Denny,

Denny and Mark Moore enjoy a spring walk

Dad has been extremely happy to be back home, although the past few days have involved some adjustment, as is usual when he moves to a new place. Mom has had to take him back into the hospital a few times for things like a clogged feeding tube.

Overall, however, he is doing well and is in good spirits. He has been taking advantage of the beautiful weather. He insisted on having lunch on the back porch in the sun, for example. He has enjoyed several visits, including one with his sister-in-law Micki and her partner, Mark.  He also finally got his hair cut by Glenda, something he has been asking for for about seven months! Glenda kindly made a house call and fixed him up. He's gone on a few walks down Graham Road looking for signs of spring (the daffodils are gorgeous) and saying hello to neighbors. His sister-in-law Phyllis took him up the road to peek in the woods (known as "Grandpa's Woods" in our house) to see if all was in order.


Dad has several new caregivers--Sherman, Mark, Mike,  and Johnny--who are helping him and Mom. They have been wonderful, and everyone is getting into the new routine. He also had meetings with his doctor and the home health nurse. Starting this week, he'll be having visits from physical, occupational, and speech therapists to get back to work on strengthening his muscles. All of the visits with friends and relatives have already been exercising his vocal cords, and his speech is much stronger than it was just two weeks ago.

Denny with his caregivers, Mark (L) and Johnny (R)

A Happy Homecoming!

Dear Friends,

Today, for the first time in seven months, Dad went home!

He is thrilled to be back on Graham Road. He expressed his great excited to smell the redwoods, see the sheep, and to breath the fresh air. Mom is also so happy to have him home and to be back there as well. When we talked to Dad today, he told us how thankful he is for her and how wonderful she's been these past few months. And we agree. This is such an exciting day for all of us. Thank you again for all of your support!

As daughter Christine noted today: Ila has been very concerned about who has been taking care of Grandpa's sheep and is relieved to know he is going back home to his sheep

Uncle David with the ramp he built for Dad a few weeks ago

Dear Friends of Denny,

It was a busy weekend for the Cahills. Dad is scheduled to go home on Wednesday, so son Kevin came up from Sacramento to help Mom prepare the house. He had lots of assistance from friends and family. They cleaned inside and out, rearranged furniture, helped assemble various gadgets, laid carpet protectors, and even planted some beautiful flowers to keep Mom's spirits up. We are so grateful for all the help that just keeps coming!

Dad is continuing with his therapy at St. Joe's. Mom, as well as the two home healthcare providers who will be assisting her, are also learning what they will need to know to help Dad while he is at home. Kevin and Mom report that he is getting stronger and more alert every day.  Kevin was really impressed with how much more cognizant and energetic he is. When Kevin arrived, he was wheeling himself around the floor using his right arm and leg. He was even doing his own exercises while he was in bed, things like arm and leg lifts, and a new move he learned at St. Joe's called a sword pull-- reaching across his body and over his head, even with his left arm. Today he also had his first shower in seven months! He was pretty excited.

Once again, thank you doesn't seem strong enough to express how we feel about everyone's generosity, but your support has been incredible. Thank you.
The Cahills